Mysterious paintings at Kurulangala & Rock carved Buddha Statues at Budupatunna.

The day I did the ‘Nil Diya Pokuna’ exploration, I was eager do the Kululangala too. Once I thought should have done with Nil Diya pokuna exploration, but this can be done in one shot (not on the same day). I buzzed trip partner, Kasun Janaka. He is always ready for adventures trips. So read the trip report by Ashan and called Methananda to check the weather. Everything was on the positive side. And also I remembered Kasun Des was telling about Budupatunna. He specifically said that August & September is the best time to visit Budupatunna, because the river (Wila Oya) will be dried. I told this plan to KJ, he encouraged me to do the both in one shot. But we both knew that for Bupatunna more planning needed.

So I called KasunDes and inquired and got the guide’s (Bandara) no from Ashan. Checked the weather, everything was looking good. But Bandara said that we need to get the permission from Archaeology department, these days STF were deployed in the jungle for search operations. For the safe side he suggested to get permission. We took all the necessary official steps to get the permission (guide to getting the permission will be discussed later, it’s an another project basically J).

Everything was set and ready to rock n’ roll. I checked the train tickets, since 4^th September was a Friday, seats were full, no choice other than taking the bus. We all met at private bus stand around 11 PM. Badulla bus left Colombo at around 12 midnight, reached Bandarawella at around 4:10 AM on 5^th. The first bus to Wellawaya at 5:20 am, till then we didn’t have nothing to do. Around 5 AM myself and KJ decided to have walk and see if there is any shop is opened to have a cup of tea, since it was cold outside. Luckily, there was bakery opened (Buhari Bakers), just few meters from the Bandarawella bus stand. All had tea and breakfast there.

We began the journey towards Karandagolla at 5:20 AM, reached Meththananda ‘s home by around 6:15 AM (10^th mile post). We were treated with hot tea once again, we quickly refreshed ourselves and got ready for the adventure. From Meththananda ‘s house, the starting point is walking distance.

1. Kurulangala

Our journey began with a usual hiking foot path, in a jungle. I would this is not a usual hiking like other mountains. Sudden 70-80-degree climb, some think jungle; it’s a mixture of all.

Jungle walk…….and rest……

Sudden 70-80 degree steep climb

We walked more than 2 hrs, and there you go, almost 90-degree climb. Meththananda (I was visualizing as Spiderman) easily climbed that rock to tie the rope for us.

KJ is climbing…….this is not for faint hearted trip

WOW!….. 90-degree drop

This was the beginning life threatening climb, this photo I have seen in many trip reports. But I thought this is the hardest climb, but I was wrong. All the guys were able to overcome the first hurdle, except one (Themiya). As I said this hike so hard and must have mental & body strength. So different from Nil Diya Pokuna, both are two sides of the rope. We didn’t have nothing other than leaving him and continuing the climb.

More and more climbing……

Nice view…..on the way…. Still more

This is the next hardest step. Two rocks were joined with a tree, in which we have to walk on that. This is the place I really got scared. This is the only way to the painting.

Lakshitha on the tree……(while returning)

The final step…….

After very long tired & hard climb, finally I was able to see the mysterious paintings.

The paintings….

The paintings….

The team…

The team…

We spend around an hour at the top taking photographs and exploring the paintings. And we saw dark clouds were building up, and going to rain. So we decided to climb down fast, if we get to rain, it will be an another nightmare. But we were too late, when on the way down, we got caught in heavy rain. Rain started before we came down, but luckily we have passed the hardest paths. We were forced to stay under a rock till the rain stops. The water was flowing like a waterfall, no way that you climb down. After a while, rain force was reduced, and we started the journey back. Because, we have to continue the trip to Budupatunna. We have to be in Monaragala on time, because the last bus to Kitiyagala leave at 6:10 PM.

We came back to Meththananda’s house around 3:00 PM, got refreshed, and got in to a Wellawaya bus around 4 PM. Form Wellawaya to Monaragala, there are lot of buses. But always better get into long distance bus (bus from Ampara, Badulla…). Because those buses don’t stop in all stops and you can reach Monaragala in 30 mins.

2. Budupatunna

We reached Monaragala at 6 PM, I informed Bandara about our arrival. Now the team split into two, one team got into Kottiyagala bus towards Banadara’s house. The bus left at 6:10 PM towards Kottiyagala. The next team myself and KJ went towards Ethimale, because we have to give the copy of the permission letter to Ethimale OIC. The Ethimale bus left Monaragala at 6:30 pm, and reached around 8:30 PM. We both went to Ethimale police station, and explained the officer (OIC was not at the station). But the officer was not ready to take the letter. He said we have to come and meet OIC tomorrow morning and handover the letter. From Ethimale to Kottiyagala, there is no public transport early morning. So coming back to Ethimale police is not possible.

I explained the police officer, but no luck. I try to give call to Ethimale OIC (on his mobile) and explained the situation. But he was not a friendly person. So we both decided to go towards Kotiyagala by a tuk tuk which was arranged by Bandara.

We both reached Bandara’s house and gave the sad news to others. We could have gone without informing to police, but I was totally against this plan. I don’t want to take risk. Themiya (who was left behind), told that Siyambalanduwa OIC is a friend, and call him to find out a way. Actually Siyambalanduwa OIC was a very nice person, he instantly called Ethimale OIC and told that his friends are going to Budupatunna and request permission.

Wow! we got the green light from Ethimale OIC. He told us to give a copy of the permission letter to Kotiyagala police post. So Bandara informed the tractor driver to come early as possible to go to police. Now we are happy that we can visit Budupatunna, with the peace of mind we had dinner, prepared by Banada’s wife.

Got up at 5 am (6^th September), and got ready to hand over the letter. The tractor came and all got it and sent to Kotiyagala police post.

Good morning! Kotiyagala.

Adventurous tractor ride.

Morning view at Kotiyagala village

Typical transportation mode

We submitted the letter to the police post and came back to Bandara’s house to get our things ready for the trip. While we were out, Bandar’s wife prepared lunch for the trip. Everything was ready and back on the tractor.

We stopped at Nava mama’s house to pick him as the third guide, he knows the jungle well. The second guide was the tractor driver (Abey). Very helpful and nice person.

Morning view at Kotiyagala village

Typical transportation mode

Maragala mountain

Nice view…..

Sandy way…

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We travelled about 45 minutes and came to place where the river bank (Wila Oya) where we have to walk from that point onwards.

The team

Entrance to river bank

At the time we went, there was water in the river, because of this, we couldn’t with our footwear. We walked bare foot, it’s easy and fast way to walk.

Walk begins

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Elephant poop.

Dead snake

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Should be bone of an Elephant

Elephant foot print

Bear’s foot print

Bear’s foot print

Rest time

New way of drinking water, without getting wet :-)

Lots of butterfly

This is why STF was deployed I guess

Some nice view….. good place for rest

A dead Moose. He was shot.

Kumbuk gate, two trees were joint together.

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After 3 hrs, we saw the land mark to Budupatunna, the rock middle of the river. What a nice view.

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From this rock, we had to walk into the jungle for about 20 meters, to view the beauty of Budupatunna.

.	Finally the Budupatunna

Bandara

Nava Mama (very humorous person)

Abey, tractor driver

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After spending an hour, we started our journey back home.

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We came back to Bandara’s house around 4 PM, refreshed ourselves, got ready to return back home. We thanked Bandara, and is wife, Nava mama & to Abey. And also said good bye to Kotiyagala and came to Ethimale on the same tractor.  From Ethimale there is a direct bus to Colombo at 7 PM. It reached Colombo around 3 AM next day.

Special Thanks goes to Bandara, Nava mama and Abey. With those guides we wouldn’t have done this trip.

In my words, it was surely a life changing & threatening experience J. Nil Diya Pokuna, Kurulangala & Budupatunna are the 3 main trips that everyone attemp. If you test your mental and body power, you should do all three.

But there is one more, Lakegala, hope this will be my next J.

WARNING!! – These expedition, should not be attended or tested individually as it is definitely a life threatening activity where a single wrong move will take your very own life as well as the others involved.